SWANNANOA  — The United States must “stand with Israel,” U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Highlands, told the Council of Independent Business Owners on March 12 at the Land of the Sky Shrine Club.

His speech, promoted as an update from Washington, was titled “Things Aren’t Always As They Seem.” About 70 people attended.

To illustrate his speech’s title and begin on a light note, Meadows told what he called “a real story” about the wife of an Episcopal priest in Highlands who needed to pick up some pantyhose from Walmart.

After making her purchase, the woman went out to her car to put on the pantyhose — and saw a man staring at her. She screamed, “What do you want, you pervert!” 

To that, the man replied, “I don’t know, but I was wondering why you were sitting in my car.” The crowd laughed heartily.

Getting down to business, Meadows said that Iran is working on missiles that could be used to attack the U.S., additionally noting the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-91.

Meadows added that Iran is “a country that we’ve been at odds with for over 30 years ... To say that they’ve changed overnight is not being realistic and it is not actual fact.”

He praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s March 3 speech to U.S. Congress that warned that talks with Iran to limit its nuclear capabilities will result in “a very bad deal” that would threaten Israel’s security.

“We’ve got to stand firmly; we need to make sure we stand with Israel and the prime minister did an unbelievable job of articulating that,” Meadows. “It is time that we recognize (Iran) for who they are. They’re the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world.”

On other matters, Meadows said there will be moves to keep some of the beneficial aspects of the Affordable Care Act, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns it. 

Meadows is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. 

He stressed that Israel “has been and is my passion in terms of foreign policy.”

After the meeting, he told the local news media that he expects the Supreme Court to turn back a challenge to the ACA.

However, Meadows said that if the decision goes against the ACA, Republicans would work for a transition to new laws regarding health care. One step would be establishment of state-sponsored insurance pools for people with pre-existing conditions who cannot otherwise get insurance, he said.

Meadows has been a strong opponent of the ACA, and was a leader in the 2013 movement to shut down much of the federal government in hopes of stopping implementation of the law.

The congressman also said he listens to the other side on that issues as well as others, sometimes calling constituents who have called his office to disagree with him.

Meadows said he favors “a long-term solution” to bring in more highway revenue for the federal government. One possibility to help the fund would be to make it easier for companies to “repatriate” their earnings held abroad, resulting in a tax windfall for the government, he said.

He also predicted more revelations in the long-running series of investigations into the 2012 attacks on American diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya.

“There’s a whole lot more to the story,” Meadows said. “The problem is it’s become political when it ought to be about how do we bring justice to the four Americans who lost their lives and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Earlier in his talk, Meadows noted that Washington, D.C, is quite different from the business world. He added that he appreciated the way CIBO’s John Carroll had just overseen the election of officers in two minutes, compared to the partisan gridlock in Washington.

Meadows said he puts lives and community above the Republican-Democrat paradigm. 

“It’s a bit more difficult” in Washington, “than it was back home in the real estate business,” he noted.

“I wanted to tell you that your voice still matters” — no matter where one stands politically. Meadows emphasized that he was aware that, in addressing CIBO, he was talking to a group widely spread across the political spectrum — and that he respected that.

He said emails, calls and other communications influence votes.

“When we start to look at those issues that are near and dear to our communities, the partisan aspect starts to fall away... It’s much tougher when you look at a community... When we start to look at the people we serve, it will make a difference.... That said, there are some great things happening in Western North Carolina... The economy is starting to come back.” 

He said WNC is known in Washington for Asheville’s attractions, including the Grove Park Inn and Biltmore Estate, and “now they know us for our breweries... And the other thing is advanced manufacturing is starting to make a comeback.”

Meadows added, “You people at CIBO are businesspeople — and you’re aware of how creating wealth” happens. “You’ve got countries like ...Turkey and Croatia ... looking to replicate what America’s doing.” Meadows told of a Turkish official urging him to make sure that America would never stop inspiring the rest of the world.

“So I’d encourage you to invest back in the community to make sure it works,” he said.

In a question-and-answer session that followed the speech, CIBO member Mac Swicegood asked “for your story (Meadows’) on John Boehner.” (Boehner is the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives — and Meadows opposed his reappointment to the post.) Also, Swicegood asked about Benghazi.

“It really gets back to letting the people’s voice be heard,” Meadows replied. “There are real consequences and I knew they would come. I got 3,000 phone calls, saying they’re dissatisfied with the status quo.... So that’s why I did it (vote against Boehner). What he’s told me personally and others is that he’s gotten the message.”

As for Benghazi, he said, “I think we’ll see a whole lot more to the story. The problem is, it’s become political ..... We have the best military in the world. We have the best intelligence in the world. And when we use them, it’ll all work out.”

A man asked “about good things...” He also said he appreciated that Meadows takes the strong stands he takes. “Those people in Iran — those are evil people,” the man said. “Something needs to be done.”

In response, Meadows said he does “look for good things every week in Washington.... The last time the Republicans actually had an agenda was when they had the Contract for America. We do a very good job of telling what we’re against. We need to tell people what we’re for. We need to tell what we’re for first — and let the ‘what we’re against’ part be second. I hope we can unveil that in the next 45 days.”

A man then asked of the gasoline tax, “Do you see anything happening?”

“What we have is a gas tax, both federal and state,” Meadows replied. “The matrixes are tough because you’ve got more fuel-efficient cars. I think there are a few of us who would look favorably on trying to have a long-term solution. I think we will fund the highway trust fund short-term — about a four-month fix. Then I think you’ll see a repatriation of foreign capital .... to (help fund the federal gas tax).”

Meadows added, “Part of the reason the gas price is down so low right now is the decrease in demand from China.”

A man then praised Meadows for his efforts in getting funding for a road in Asheville’s River Arts District.

“We were very fortunate to get” the first grant for such a project, Meadows noted. “Many people deserve credit for that....” He reiterated that “people from all over the world know where Asheville is.”

A woman asked Meadows to “tell us your stand on Israel... and what it was like to be there when Benjamin Netanahu spoke.”

“It was the most expensive ticket in town,” Meadows said with a smile. “The prime minister laid out not only a cause for Israel, but a cause for the United States. Along with this ability (for Iran) to have a nuclear bomb, (Netanahu noted) that Americans live in great peace and prosperity and we’re not worried about rockets coming in to get us,” Meadows said, paraphrasing the prime minister.

“For me, Israel is probably my passion on foreign policy... It really is about who we are... I could probably have every Jewish person in my district vote against me — and it wouldn’t make any difference.

“If we think that truly a country that we’ve been at odds with over 30 years... to think that they’ve changed overnight ... is to not be realistic... It’s time we’ve recognized them for who they are — and they are the greatest perpetrator of terrorism” in the world. Meadows comments were greeted with scattered applause.

A man asked if a “change in administration” will be required to get the Keystone Pipeline passed. 

“Yes, it’s going to take a different administration to get that,” Meadows replied. “Unions are for it. Because of that support, I think you’ll see it eventually. Unless gas prices gets up to $3 or $4 per gallon, I think it will (require a new administration).”

As for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a woman said, “We know the foreign dollar is down. How does foreign investment affect growth?”

Meadows said, “I think foreign investment is a good thing. The reason you’re not seeing so many foreign firms is because the United States has the largest corporate tax in the world. ... The only thing that keeps it on an even playing field is that energy prices in United States have been more favorable.”

He added, “Most of you know about the Roaring ‘20s — that came as the result of lower taxes. John Kennedy lowered taxes and you saw businesses thrive... So I’m all for foreign investment... The real question is it needs to be a quality investment.”

In other action, CIBO — unanimously and with no discussion — elected officers and board members for 2015-16. The slate of officers, presented by the nominating committee led by John Carroll, includes:

• President Rod Hudgins, Rod Hudgins Engineering

• Vice President Buzzy Cannady, M.B. Haynes Corp.

• Secretary-treasurer Scott Hughes, Johnson Price  Sprinkle CPAs

• Class 1 board member – Kerney McNeil, Preferred Storage

• Class II board member — Jan Davis, Jan Davis Tire Store

• Class III board member — Josh Holmes, Ed Holmes & Associates..